Friday, February 2, 2007

LAS VEGAS -- Travis Lutter knew his moment in the spotlight had arrived when he walked out of McCarran International Airport and saw a cab with his face on the back of it.

And when the mixed martial arts fighter arrived at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, the welcome mat was literally out.

A giant mat at the hotel entrance serves as a billboard for Lutter's title fight tomorrow against middleweight champion Anderson Silva, which headlines UFC 67: All or Nothing (available on PPV) at the Mandalay Bay Event Center.

"It's 60 feet long, 30 foot wide," Lutter marvelled yesterday. "And what do you do with that after this fight? It's worthless.

"Can I have it?" he joked.

"I'll put it in the basement, but the shipping costs would be extraordinary."